Ahhh!

This kid is a climber. We were playing in the basement today and I looked over and saw him standing on the end table. He had climbed in a matter of seconds from the ground, up the couch and onto the table. When I told the doctor this she said, "Ummm, this is really early to be climbing like that." Don't tell me that, please.

We are in a heaps o' trouble around here. Heaps, I tell you.

Different Strokes for different folks

Check this out.

Anatomy 101

Whitney and Ian B. came over for dinner last night. Luke was in a real mood-- showing off for them and telling jokes. At one point during the meal he looked at Whitney and said, point blank, "Whitney why do you have breastes (he has a funny way of pluralizing words that end in st)?" I took him out of the room and explained that this wasn't dinner conversation.

What are we going to do with that kid?

Almost there...

Noah is taking steps here and there but mostly he's just into standing.

Whoa!

This picture of Jakob makes me laugh to the point of tears. What is he doing?

Every single one of these pictures could be a separate blog post but, alas, time constraints require that they all be put together. These are from my trip to Boise when Luke was only a few months old. I think that the whole thing started with this phrase, "take my picture over here."

blue eyes

At least Nat will look at the camera.

It's over

This is what the clock in my room looked like when I finished reading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows early this morning. I was about 200 pages into it when Nat got home from work. We ran some errands while he read aloud to me and then we got home, ate dinner and got the kids ready for bed. I was sneaking chapters in here and there. But, when the kids were both asleep at 8:30 I went full steam ahead and finished the remaining 560 or so pages. I forced myself to slow down, read all the descriptions and stop and think about what I was reading (I have the tendency to skip descriptions when I really want to know what is going to happen next). This book was brilliant, just brilliant.

Now I am just left wondering how I am going to feed my Harry Potter cravings. Should I reread all the books? Watch all the movies again? Maybe I'll just go check mugglenet.com
to see what the rest of the fans are doing not that it's over.

Have you got your copy?

I love Harry Potter. I will just put that out there. I have loved all the books and enjoyed the movies (which are fun but not nearly as satisfying as the books). I also love my family-- even my brother-in-law Aaron. I haven't read any of the books right after they have come out because I am cheap and count on being able to borrow Barb's copy of the book. This strategy didn't work out very well for me with book number six. The end of the book was unwittingly disclosed to me while dining on Sushi with Emily and Aaron. It had somehow escaped Aaron's attention that I had not read the book yet. I was really mad-- that's the only way to put it. Nat, being the peacemaker that he is, decided to pre-order my copy as our anniversary present. It was a perfect gift. It arrived in the mail on Saturday afternoon, cleverly packaged. I haven't allowed myself much reading time. I am about 100 pages into it but am wary to really start until I tie up some loose ends around here because once I get going there is no stopping. Nat (aka Johnny-come-lately to the H.P. scene) is already finished. It's fun to see his excitement.



I also attended two Harry Potter parties on Friday night. Borders and Barnes and Noble put one some fun festivities. Emma, Whitney, and I met Shelley at Barnes and Noble and then met up with Whitney's brother Ian at Borders, where he revealed his Dark Mark. Even though I wasn't waiting to buy the book at midnight, it felt like a once-in-a-lifetime chance to celebrate with other Harry Potter fans. Here are some pictures:









There were a lot of fun costumes. I wish that I had been more bold and gotten a picture of the fabulous house elf, little Mad-eye, or the very realistic Bellatrix. I got sorted and was disappointed to discover that I am in Hufflepuff, home of squibs and other talentless wizards and witches. Happy reading!

Beach Ball

We got a new beach ball which Noah loves. He chases it around the yard, hitting it as he goes. Don't you just love summer?

You're invited

This picture is for Doug because whenever I make Shepard's Pie I wish that he were here to enjoy it with us. He also likes beets as much as Nat and I do. This was a particular success; everything in our meal was from the farmer's market-- even the swiss cheese and grass fed ground beef. It was delicious. Feeding my family is a sublime pleasure.

It's Spinach Quiche and green salad tonight. Come on over!

First Trip to the Dentist

Little Lukey got to go to the dentist for the first time today. He was perfect, very charming and cooperative. The hygienist couldn't stop telling him what a good job he was doing. It was a huge relief, I was worried that he wouldn't hold his mouth open long enough or that he might clam up. It was really cute to see him answer all the questions and interact with the hygienist and the dentist. The dentist said that his teeth look great and to keep up the good work. I hope this means he has my teeth and not his father's (11 cavities in one visit!?!).

He sat very still and did whatever he was told to do.

He loved the sunglasses they gave him to protect his eyes from the light.

He chose a Sesame Street toothbrush and was thrilled about the little tube of toothpaste they gave him-- you'd think he'd never seen toothpaste.

Happy Brushing!

Special Sunday

I always love Sundays around here. It's a nice time to be relieved of worldly pressures and thoughts and a good time to enjoy my family. Today there was an additional peace that entered our home and enhanced the calm that accompanies the Sabbath. Nathaniel was set apart as the first counselor in the bishopric and ordained to the office of a high priest. It was really special to be a part of both the setting apart and the ordination. It was again apparent to me that the Lord knows and loves my husband and my family. We found out on Thursday that Nat would be called and so Doug and Barb were able to be here. Doug performed the ordination. It meant a lot to have them here. Can you believe it though, I forgot to get pictures with them.

But, we made up for it later in the day. Here is how the afternoon went down:

Nat laid on the floor overwhelmed with the responsibilities of the ward and our family,

I kissed Noah,

and got kissed by Luke,

Luke took a picture of Noah's head (and my profile),

Nat got tackled by the boys,

and finally Luke got Noah in a scissor hold.